Unsorted FBI Documents

:ase l:10-cv-01878-ABJ Document 44-3 hiiea u/7uz/iz^ayt; ±h ui ±u±

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DECLASSIFICATION AUTHORITY DERIVED FROM:

F^^UTOHATIC declassification guide 4

SAC

Date: 2-7-61

from : SA WILLIAM H. LAWRENCE

subject: ERNEST COLUMBUS WITHERS
PCI

Re Serial 60.

On 2-1-61, JAMES C. MACDONALD, NA, Chief,

Memphis Police Department, furnished Information from his
Departments personnel file regarding ERNEST COLUMBUS
WITHERS, a former patrolman. This showed WITHERS to have b ^ r _ 3
been born 8-7-22 at Memphis; residence, 22 5 Reno Avenue, as
of 10-1 1-48: race, Negro; sex, male; wife.P

I mother, MINNIE WITHERS; father, ARTHUR EARL
WITHERS; former employment, dates not listed, Jarman Shoe
Store, Main and Monroe, Memphis; Humko Company, Thomas
Avenue, Memphis, U. S. Army and self-employed.

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WITHERS was employed as a patrolman on the bic -5
Police Department from 11-5-48 «n*n S -25-51. o n the

latter date WITHERS was caught by| I current

Assist ant Chief, in the a ct of dividing money with a male
Negro, I I said mo ney being the proceeds from

the sale of whiskey by | [ which whiskey was provided

by WITHERS. WITHERS was summarily fired for conduct unbe-
coming an officer and is not eligible for rehire.

The file also showed that he was suspended for
a day on 8-20-49 for failure to appear in court as a prose-
cuting witness; that he was suspended for a week on 12-2-48
for rfighting with an auto salesman.

MACDONALD pointed out t hat WITHERS was one of the
first Negro officers ever hired by the Memphis PD. He said
that while he was intelligent, he had proven himself un-
trustworthy by illegally engaging in the furnishing of
whiskey to another to sell.

MACDONALD added that he personally does not like
WITHERS and feels that WITHERS, while no doubt loyal to the

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FBI-Withers-893

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United States, Is definitely an opportunist. Be pointed
out that since leaving the police Department WITHERS has
been aalf -employed as a free lance news and portrait photo-
grapher in the Negro community. b6 _ 5

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MACDONA LD p ointed out that he would not 1
personally trust WITHERS , although he pointed out that
WITHERS might be cooperative with any governmental agency
if he thought it would be to his adva ntage to do so.

MACDONALD pointed out that on 2-1-61J I

I advised that

he had a lot of dealings with WITHERS while the latter was on
the Police Department. He advised that' WITHERS had not been
a good officer and required an excessive amount of supervision.

RECOMMENDATION

'

In view of the above. It is not believed that

WITHERS can meet the Bureau’s reliability requirements as a
PCI (RAC) wherein his activities can be directed or controlled.
However, because of his many contacts in the racial field,
plus his indicated willingness to cooperate with this Bureau,
as attested by his rece nt furnishing of Information, it is
recommended that WITHERS be considered, as a PCI. He will be
1 contacted regarding general criminal matters. If in the course
of these contacts he volunteers any information relating to ,
security matters or racial matters, it of course will be
accepted. It will be understood, of course, that his activi-
ties will not be directed in any manner with regard to racial
matters or security matters.

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FBI-Withers-894

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